A state board is considering the drastic move, which could come as soon as May, after an outbreak of the lung disease silicosis among countertop fabricators.
I’m curious why target common silicon dioxide (silica) when cheap $100 air quality monitors (including detection of static VOCs) exist that measure down to 0.3um. Wide application ranges at that low (unfilterable) range. From steam discharge monitoring, to oll vapours, to chemical fumes, to residential air quality on weather stations.
I think you’re placing too much faith in just the existence of good equipment to keep workers safe.
Good safe equipment does exist, But 1) It only works to protect employees health if it’s in good condition, and 2) Depending on employers who aren’t cheap enough or ignorant enough to use inferior equipment that will indirectly endanger employees’ health.
It’s more reliable just to require use of safe materials, especially if there isn’t much cost difference.
Particle counters are good. But they only tell you about what’s happening near the worksite. Remember the advice of walking 6ft apart so you wouldn’t catch covid, but then it turned out to be wack? Same here. You get a particle in the wrong place at the wrong time and you’ll develop cancer.
I’m curious why target common silicon dioxide (silica) when cheap $100 air quality monitors (including detection of static VOCs) exist that measure down to 0.3um. Wide application ranges at that low (unfilterable) range. From steam discharge monitoring, to oll vapours, to chemical fumes, to residential air quality on weather stations.
I think you’re placing too much faith in just the existence of good equipment to keep workers safe.
Good safe equipment does exist, But 1) It only works to protect employees health if it’s in good condition, and 2) Depending on employers who aren’t cheap enough or ignorant enough to use inferior equipment that will indirectly endanger employees’ health.
It’s more reliable just to require use of safe materials, especially if there isn’t much cost difference.
Particle counters are good. But they only tell you about what’s happening near the worksite. Remember the advice of walking 6ft apart so you wouldn’t catch covid, but then it turned out to be wack? Same here. You get a particle in the wrong place at the wrong time and you’ll develop cancer.